Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Summary
Denver spends 112.6% more per capita than Phoenix ($17,789/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
C
51/100
Budget Balance68
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency26
Revenue Diversity99
Trend Direction50
B
67/100
Budget Balance93
Debt Burden45
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
Key Metrics
Metric
Denver
Phoenix
Total Spending
$23.9B
$25.4B
Spending / Capita
$33,582
$15,793
Total Revenue
$86.8B
$81.6B
Revenue / Capita
$122,063
$50,709
Total Debt
$3.6B
$1.9B
Debt / Capita
$5,126
$1,156
Population
710,800
1,609,456
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0
Per Capita Spending by Department
Police
Denver$2,455
Phoenix$0
Fire Protection
Denver$1,668
Phoenix$170
Highways & Roads
Denver$475
Phoenix$86
Parks & Recreation
Denver$3,319
Phoenix$652
Education
Denver$821
Phoenix$214
Health
Denver$693
Phoenix$258
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
DenverPhoenix
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $2,070 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $2,998 |
| Other | $10,100 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
DenverPhoenix
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $86 |
| Education | $821 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $507 |
| Health | $693 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $652 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $388 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $1,760 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $3,878 |
C
Denver, CO
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health
B
Phoenix, AZ
Fiscal Health Score: 67/100
Good fiscal health